Image forming apparatus, method for managing print job, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is configured to access a storage that stores, therein, first associating information indicating a first terminal identifier for identifying a terminal and a first user identifier for identifying a user. The apparatus receives data based on which a print job is to be executed and which contains a second terminal identifier. If the second terminal identifier contained in the data matches the first terminal identifier indicated in the first associating information, then the apparatus executes the print job. Otherwise, the apparatus suspends execution of the print job. The apparatus receives an input of a second user identifier. If the second user identifier matches the first user identifier indicated in the first associating information, and, if the print job whose execution is suspended is selected, then the apparatus stores, into the storage, second associating information indicating the second terminal identifier and the second user identifier.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an associating information storage that stores associating information which associates a terminal identifier for identifying a user terminal and a user identifier for identifying a user with each other; 
 a print job receiving portion that receives, from the user terminal, a print job data containing the terminal identifier of the user terminal; 
 an execution giving permission portion that gives permission to execute the print job when the terminal identifier contained in the received print job data is stored in the associating information storage, and suspends execution of the print job when the terminal identifier is not stored in the associating information storage; 
 a user identifier obtaining portion that requests the user to enter the user identifier and obtains the user identifier; 
 a suspended job obtaining portion that requests the user to select the print job whose execution is suspended by the execution permission giving portion and obtains the selected print job when the user identifier obtained by the user identifier obtaining portion is stored in the associating information storage portion; 
 an associating information generating portion that generates, as the associating information, information in which the terminal identifier contained in the print job obtained by the suspended job obtaining portion and the user identifier obtained by the user identifier obtaining portion are associated with each other, and stores the associating information in the associating information storage; 
 a determination portion that determines, when the execution giving permission portion gives the permission to execute the print job, whether the print job is a secure print job, the secure print job involving instruction from the user in order to initiate execution; and 
 a job execution portion that executes the print job when: (i) the determination portion determines that the print job is not the secure print job, and (ii) the terminal identifier contained in the received print job data is stored in the associating information storage. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the associating information generating portion stores the terminal identifier contained in the print job obtained by the suspended job obtaining portion and the user identifier obtained by the user identifier obtaining portion, and then, executes the print job. 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a deletion portion that, before the user uses the terminal, deletes the terminal identifier stored in association with the user identifier of the user in the associating information storage. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the print job contains a first password, 
 the suspended job obtaining portion requests the user to select the print job and to enter the first password, and obtains the selected print job and the entered password, 
 when the first password contained in the print job matches the first password obtained by the suspended job obtaining portion, the associating information generating portion generates, as the associating information, information in which the terminal identifier contained in said print job and the user identifier obtained by the user identifier obtaining portion are associated with each other, and stores the associating information. 
 
     
     
       5. A print job management method used in an image forming apparatus including an associating information storage that stores associating information which associates a terminal identifier for identifying a user terminal and a user identifier for identifying a user with each other, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the user terminal, a print job containing the terminal identifier of the user terminal; 
 giving a permission to execute the print job when the terminal identifier contained in the received print job data is stored in the associating information storage and suspending execution of the print job when the terminal identifier is not stored in the associating information storage; 
 requesting the user to enter the user identifier and obtaining the user identifier; 
 requesting the user to select the print job whose execution is suspended and obtaining the selected print job when the obtained user identifier is stored in the associating information storage; 
 generating, as the associating information, information in which the terminal identifier contained in the obtained print job and the obtained user identifier are associated with each other, and storing the associating information in the associating information storage; 
 when permission is given to execute the print job, determining whether the print job is a secure print job, the secure print job involving instruction from the user in order to initiate execution; and 
 when the print job is determined to not be a secure print job and the terminal identifier contained in the received print job data is stored in the associating information storage, executing the print job. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising storing the terminal identifier contained in the obtained print job and the obtained user identifier, and then, executing the print job. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising, before the user uses the terminal, deleting the terminal identifier stored in association with the user identifier of the user in the associating information storage. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the print job contains a first password;
 the method further comprises: 
 requesting the user to select the print job and to enter the first password, and obtaining the selected print job and the entered password; and 
 generating, as the associating information, information in which the terminal identifier contained in the print job and the obtained user identifier are associated with each other and storing the associating information when the first password contained in the print job matches the entered password. 
 
     
     
       9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program used for causing an image forming apparatus to manage a print job, the image forming apparatus including an associating information storage that stores associating information which associates a terminal identifier for identifying a user terminal and a user identifier for identifying a user with each other, the computer program comprising:
 receiving, from the user terminal, a print job containing the terminal identifier of the user terminal; 
 giving a permission to execute the print job when the terminal identifier contained in the received print job is stored in the associating information storage, and suspending execution of the print job when the terminal identifier is not stored in the associating information storage; 
 requesting the user to enter the user identifier and obtaining the user identifier; 
 requesting the user to select the print job whose execution is suspended and obtaining the selected print job when the obtained user identifier is stored in the associating information storage; 
 generating, as the associating information, information in which the terminal identifier contained in the obtained print job and the obtained user identifier are associated with each other, and storing the associating information in the associating information storage; 
 when the permission is given to execute the print job, determining whether the print job is a secure print job, the secure print job involving instruction from the user in order to initiate execution; and 
 when the print job is determined to not be a secure print job and the terminal identifier contained in the received print job data is stored in the associating information storage, executing the print job. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 9 , the computer program further comprising storing the terminal identifier contained in the obtained print job and the obtained user identifier, and then, executing the print job. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 9 , the computer program further comprises, before the user uses the terminal, deleting the terminal identifier stored in association with the user identifier of the user in the associating information storage. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the print job contains a first password;
 the computer program further comprises: 
 requesting the user to select the print job and to enter the first password, and obtaining the selected print job and the entered password; and 
 generating, as the associating information, information in which the terminal identifier contained in the print job and the obtained user identifier are associated with each other and storing the associating information when the first password contained in the print job matches the entered password.